Water reservoir cleaning drive in full swing in Gr Noida; to wrap up by July 6
'The cleaning of underground reservoirs is being carried out as per the pre-decided schedule. Water department officials have been instructed to ensure that the work is completed on time without compromising on hygiene standards,' said Prerna Singh, additional chief executive officer (ACEO), after inspecting progress on Thursday.
To minimise disruption during cleaning, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has released a detailed sector-wise schedule and arranged for water supply through tankers where needed. Cleaning at Sector MU-1 EWS Society is ongoing from June 13 to 15. Sectors 36 and 37 will follow from June 17 to 19; Gamma I, Gamma II, Beta I, and Beta II from June 22 to 24; Alpha I and II from June 26 to 28; Delta I, II, and III from June 30 to July 2; and the Sports Complex between July 4 and 6.
Residents have been informed in advance about low water pressure, and helplines (7983604110, 9811839456, 9873763995, 9899331572, 9654302913, 8130504019, 8377911380, 9871090100) are active for tanker requests. 'The cleaning schedule has also been uploaded to the authority's official website for public access,' added Singh.
Sandeep Mehta, a resident of Gamma II, said, 'We have had complaints earlier of foul-smelling tap water during summers. This cleaning drive is reassuring.' However, Rajeev Thakur of Delta added, 'Advance intimation and better timing could have helped. Many residents are unaware of the tanker facility.'
In parallel, GNIDA has launched a citywide overhead water tank cleaning drive. Starting in early June with Sigma IV, this phase-wise effort will run until July 10, covering Chi, Omega, Knowledge Park, Gamma, and other zones. Officials clarified that while underground reservoir cleaning is routine, overhead tanks—which directly serve households—are being cleaned systematically for the first time this year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
DM welcomes school kids, gifts books & chocolates
Kanpur: Around 1.25 lakhs children on Tuesday appeared in all primary and junior schools of the city in the new academic session. District magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh welcomed the new students at Primary School Bhaisia Hata Colonelganj by placing vermilion on the foreheads of the students and inaugurated the school chalo campaign. He presented books, pens and chocolates to the new students. Communicating with the students, the district magistrate said, "This is the time when you can strengthen the foundation of your future." He said that currently 54 students are registered in the school. He directed the principal to increase the number of children. The DM said,"I appeal to all the teachers to discharge their duties with full devotion and punctuality. Also, parents are requested to send their children to school regularly." Singh said that he was sure that the education department and partner organisations would work together to further strengthen the quality of education and school facilities. Due to the coordinated efforts of the directorate, books and educational material were made available to all the students on time, due to which the session started in an organised and positive manner, he added. All public schools and government schools of city opened on Tuesday after vacations. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana district sees two-fold surge in resource saving farm practice
The district has experienced a significant increase in the area dedicated to Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) cultivation this Kharif season, more than doubling last year's figures. With the transplantation process still halfway complete, the DSR cultivated area has already reached 4,000 acres, a considerable jump from the 1,800 acres recorded last Kharif season. The Direct Seeded Rice method utilises specialised machines that plant seeds directly with drills. (HT Photo) Chief agricultural officer Gurdeep Singh noted that while the total area under DSR was only 1,800 acres last year, this year has seen a substantial rise to 4,000 acres, even with transplantation expected to continue until July 15. The department anticipates that 2.58 lakh hectares of land will be cultivated with paddy this Kharif season, and Ludhiana district has already covered 50%-52% of this expected area. Paddy experts highlight the multiple benefits of the DSR practice. Dr Buta Singh Dhillon from Punjab Agricultural University explained that DSR saves between 10%-20% of water in irrigation. This is primarily because it eliminates the need for nursery raising, which requires significant irrigation, and the subsequent puddling process to prepare fields for transplanting. Beyond water conservation, farmers also save on labour costs for nursery raising and transplanting, as well as on machine inputs for puddling and their associated maintenance. Dr Dhillon pointed out that DSR reduces the reliance on fuel-guzzling tractors for ploughing and intensive puddling, which often leads to tractors getting stuck and needing repair. Furthermore, DSR practice aids in groundwater recharge. Singh elaborated that puddling creates a hardpan in the subsoil layer, over 15 cm below the surface, which prevents rainwater from seeping into the ground. When puddling is avoided, the subsoil remains porous, allowing water to infiltrate rather than evaporate, thereby replenishing groundwater. Fields cultivated using DSR also show a slight increase of 1-1.5 quintals in the yield for the succeeding wheat crop in the Rabi season. This is because the absence of puddling means the subsoil retains its pores, providing better conditions for wheat, which unlike paddy, cannot tolerate excessive water and often turns pale after initial irrigation if the ground is compacted. The DSR method utilises specialised machines that plant seeds directly with drills. Singh explained that this process, unlike traditional seed spraying, employs a geometric approach to ensure seeds are equally distanced, allowing them to optimally benefit from soil nutrition and solar radiation.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Water body or low-lying land? A dispute that lies at the heart of Delhi's depleting wetlands
A long-running tug of war between two government agencies in Delhi over Tikri Khurd lake, which spans over 40 acres in Narela,is symptomatic of why wetlands and water bodies are depleting in the national capital. It's been eight years since the Centre formulated wetland rules –which made it mandatory for all States and Union Territories to form State wetland authorities and identify and notify all wetlands – but not a single wetland has been notified in the Capital. Over six years have elapsed since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed authorities to conserve Tikri Khurd lake. No action has been taken, and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which owns the lake, continues to deny that it is a water body. 'We are of the view that the Wetland Authority of Delhi (WAD) must look into the matter. Even if it is found thatthe area in question is not technically a wetland, the lake is required to be preserved as a water body,' the NGT had said in an order dated March 29, 2019. A similar stand taken by the DDA in 2019 was flayed by the NGT as showing lack of commitment for conserving the water body and 'focusing on technicalities and shifting responsibility'. Expertshave highlighted that the role of wetlands is vitalin the city's hydrological cycle, which provides a wide range of ecosystem services likewater storage, purification, groundwater recharge and helps prevent waterlogging and floods. Dwindling numbers The situation of the Tikri Khurd lake is not unique. Diwan Singh, a Delhi-based environment activist, criticised the authorities for not trying to revive water bodies. 'The government is not doing anything to revive water bodies. Even water bodies mentioned in government records are being legally or illegally filled up in many cases,' Mr.Singh said. The WAD is supposed to notify water bodies that fit the definition of 'wetlands'. It should also provide legal protection from encroachments and facilitate efforts to rejuvenate them. But Delhi has lost several wetlands to unplanned growth and encroachments, say experts. Meanwhile, the government agencies in charge ofwater bodies in Delhi have reportedly requested WAD for the 'deletion'of 232 out of 1,045 water bodies — over 22% — from the official records, due to encroachment and other reasons. Agencies at odds The DDA describes Tikri Khurd lake as a 'low-lying land' where sewer water has accumulated. 'It is hereby requested to kindly not issue the notification declaring the Tikri Khurd lake under the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 since the said area is the acquired land of DDA,' the DDA told WAD in a communication dated November 29, 2024, accessed byThe Hindu. WAD officials say obstacles like the one they are facing with Tikri Khurd lake are causing the delay in notifying water bodies as wetlands in the Capital. However, a WAD official asserted that the lake is a water body and they have donea ground-truthing exercise, whichinvolves verifying data by comparing it to real-time observations or measurements. 'A technical committee of the Wetland Authority of Delhi had in 2021 recommended to notify the lake as a wetland after its assessment. It has remained in our records as a water body and the DDA cannot say that it is not a water body. We will push for notifying it as a wetland,' the official said. There was no response when The Hindu reached out to a DDA spokesperson and vice-chairperson's office. Meanwhile, when The Hindu visited the area, a large shallow waterlogged area was found. Residents recalled the destruction of smaller ponds as the village grew, while the current lake gradually filled the remaining low-lying land.
